According to a new report, Connor Bedard’s shoulder injury influenced the price of his next deal with the Chicago Blackhawks.
David Pagnotta, an insider, stated on The Sheet this week that Bedard’s injury “unquestionably influenced a little bit of the dollars” he ultimately received.
David Pagnotta: No doubt the injury had a minor impact on the amount of money [Connor Bedard] received from the Blackhawks’ extension.
Bedard remains on injured reserve. An estimated return date of November 11, 2026, is listed in his file.
Before he even steps onto the ice, Chicago’s franchise center could miss a portion of next season.
Despite playing in only 69 games last year, he still had 75 points. Five game-winning goals, 45 assists, 30 goals.
Finding a discount is exactly what a team does when it locks in a term when an injury is still on the books. It’s also precisely how a contract goes bad in two or three years.
Investing in a vehicle with a “check engine” light is comparable to wagering on a damaged shoulder. It could operate flawlessly for many years. It might not.
Hawks face yet another difficult season.
Last season, Chicago finished 29, 39, and 14, good for 72 points, the second-worst total in the NHL.
Behind them was only Vancouver. Jeff Blashill and general manager Kyle Davidson took over a reconstruction that requires genuine effort.
With a 5-2 victory against San Jose, the Blackhawks concluded the year with a one-game winning run. Small mercy after a season that resulted in a minus-62 goal differential.
Bedard’s own last period was likewise difficult. Over those ten games, he had eight points, no goals, and a minus-14 rating.
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